Earlier, I posted my top 5 favorite things in Oahu. And now, I'd like to share my top 5 favorite things we did on the Big Island! It seems not a lot of people visit the Big Island when traveling to Hawaii, but there are a lot of really interesting things to see there!

My Top 5 Favorite Things on The Big Island:

1. Volcano National Park:

Lots of nice things to see here! Steam vents, hiking, museums, and, of course, the volcano.

We went later in the day and were able to watch the sunset at the volcano. It starts to glow as the sun goes down. Super beautiful! But get there early and claim a spot, because the viewing area will fill up quickly.

It costs $15 (per vehicle) to get in (unless you have a nation park pass). But once you pay, keep the receipt because it is valid for 7 days.

2. Punalu'u Black Sand Beach:

Its not every day you get the chance to visit a black sand beach, so don't miss out if you are visiting the big island. The black sand comes from lava rock that has been turned to sand.

And if black sand isn't cool enough on its own, you may also get lucky and see a sea turtle sitting on the beach! Make sure you keep a distance and don't touch them. They just want to take a nap in peace.

3. Snorkeling with Dolphins:

There are a lot of companies that offer dolphin trips. We chose to go with Big Island Divers. They took us out pretty far to where some dolphins were spotted. Then they'd drop us into the water in enough time to catch some glimpses of them swimming by.

Of course, there are no guarantees that you get to see dolphins when you go out. They are wild animals and not just in a swimming pool. We got lucky and I enjoyed it a lot! And on the boat ride back, they were swimming a long the boat, so we got some extra glimpses.

We spent the whole morning out on the boat and swimming. Cost us about $120 each. They provided the snorkel gear (you can bring your own as well). They also had snacks and drinks for everyone. Great way to spend a morning!

4. Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park:

There are a few national parks along the west side of the big island. We stopped at them all, but this one was my favorite. It felt super immersive. It is a ancient sacred place of refuge, for people who broke a law.

You can grab a free map when you get there and then do a self guided tour of the site. The map explains what each thing is along the way.

There was a fee to get into this park: $5 per vehicle. But like the volcano park, its good for 7 days if you wanted to go back and see it again.

5. Papakolea Green Sand Beach

So I have to admit, the sand wasn't nearly as green as I was originally thinking. But it was green compared to most sand. The green is caused by a mineral called olivine, which gets there via the volcanos. There are only four other green sand beaches in the world, so it was a must see for us.

The beach is very secluded. You can either hike for an hour to get there (with no marked trail or path). You can try to drive there. Which I would only recommend with a 4-wheel drive vehicle that you can take off road. Last option, is to pay some of the locals there to drive you on their ATV. Just be prepared for a scary bouncy ride. We did the last option. Ran us $15 each. A bit pricey, but it was way to late in the day for us to walk there on own. And it was a fun ride, so I didn't mind.

And that is my top 5 things we did on The Big Island!

Hawaii: My Top 5 Favorite Things on The Big Island